Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport have created their list of the best twenty young players in the world right now.
The guidelines being that only players who were under the age of 20 when the season started are valid.
20. Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham)
Tough tackling midfielder broke onto the scene shortly after Tim Sherwood took over at White Hart Lane and has been mighty impressive, earning his first Algerian national team cap barely a month after his Premier League debut.
19. Simone Scuffet (Udinese)
Keeper with a very bright future who earned his Serie A debut at the tender age of just 17, has subsequently collected six clean sheets in his first ten appearances.
18. Adrien Rabiot (PSG)
Rangy midfielder is considered one of the hottest prospects in French football and the 18 year old has already been capped at Under 21 level and has over 50 top level appearances to his name.
17. Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven)
Already into his third season in the PSV first team set-up and has made a real impact, scoring 13 goals from the wing and likely to be part of Louis van Gaal’s 2014 World Cup finals squad.
16. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Teenage centre-back received some high praise when at Saint-Etienne prior to securing his move to Chelsea in January, on the cusp of a first French national team call-up.
15. Anthony Martial (AS Monaco)
18 year old is a bright bright talent who has already made an impact at the Stade Louis II following his move to the principality last summer.
14. Jean-Paul Boetius (Feyenoord)
Teenagers showing for Feyenoord this term have been mouthwatering and earned his first call-up to the Dutch national team at the age of 18.
13. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Anderlecht)
Signed by Brussels giants in the summer and his record of 13 goals in 24 appearances have been a feature of an otherwise poor season for Anderlecht.
12. Hakan Calhanoglu (Hamburg)
Turkish international has scored some stunning efforts this season and his form has led to a long term contract extension and comparisons with fellow countryman Arda Turan.
11. Viktor Fischer (Ajax)
19 year old Dane is already a regular in the Ajax first team set-up, racking up 19 goals in 67 appearances and has already amassed half a dozen national team caps, a very promising talent.
10. Lucas Ocampos (AS Monaco)
Teenage Argentine attacker played his part in getting AS Monaco back into the top tier and has shown by his performances in Ligue 1 that he can cut it with the best of them.
9. Domenico Berardi (Juventus)
Young Italian has been simply superb during a loan season at Sassuolo, the highlight of his 12 goal tally in 21 Serie A appearances being his four goal haul against AC Milan.
8. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
The latest off the St Mary’s production line and a sign of his obvious talent is the fact that valuations of £30m are not considered absurd. 18 year old may just make it into Roy Hodgson’s 2014 World Cup squad.
7. Leon Goretzka (Schalke)
19 year old is blooming into a cultured midfielder at Schalke and the Bundesliga side will have to do all they can to keep hold of the German teenager much longer.
6. Zakaria Bakkali (PSV Eindhoven)
The 18 year old attacker has been outstanding this season, the pint sized performer having already represented Belgium at senior national team level, and a player who is said to be the target of many of Europe’s ‘Elite’.
5. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Anfield winger has matured into a far more effective performer this term, becoming a key part of a Liverpool attack that has been the scourge of Premier League defences this term. Could well feature at this summer’s World Cup finals.
4. Marquinhos (PSG)
Many baulked when PSG paid around £25m for the Brazilian defender last July but after 24 appearances in all competitions this term many can see why the French side were so eager to get their man.
3. Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona)
Young Spaniard has made a name for himself during a loan spell at Everton and is sure to be welcomed back into the Barcelona first team set-up next term, where he is ready, willing and able to make an impact.
2. Lucas Piazon (Chelsea)
Brazilian has been in inspired form during a season long loan spell at Vitesse, scoring goals and providing assists with alarming regularity, may well be a more prominent member of Jose Mourinho’s squad next term.
1. Adnan Januzaj (Man United)
The Belgian born teenager hasn’t looked back since breaking into the Man United first team, scoring a brace on his full Premier League debut. One of the few bright spots in an otherwise shocking season for the Old Trafford club, a player David Moyes will want to keep hold of.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport